Contemplating one’s own demise is far too depressing. So let’s talk of someone else, an imaginary character, Harry Withers (age 54) who owned “Withering Hikes,” a chain of seven retail apparel stores for outdoor enthusiasts on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains. One day Harry simply disappeared while scouting new hiking trails.

We work every day with owners to build sustainable value in their companies. Some of these owners build value so their companies can be more profitable, others build value with an eye on growth, while still others want to use systems (that build value) to become more organized.